According to the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in Geneva, landmines and other weapons to be “excessively injurious” or to have “indiscriminate effects” are prohibited in war.

The International Committee of the Red Cross also agrees, stating that the banning of landmines will ‘reduce the suffering caused by armed conflict to the minimum necessary for the achievement of legitimate military objectives.’

The President threatened to pull out the peace talk panel if the NPA continued the use of landmines, stating that the budget of the peace talk would be given to the Department of Defense.

‘The Defense department is asking for [20,000 more] troops. I am looking at the budget, We have no money. But if that’s what you want, I’ll give that to the Defense department,’ Duterte said.

Duterte issued this warning after the NPA attacked government forces in Davao del Norte.

‘I am not pleading this time. That’s an ultimatum. [If I] hear another explosion killing people – not only soldiers – killing people, no talks, pasensiya na (I’m sorry),’ the president forcefully said.

In his first State of the Nation Address, Duterte declared a ceasefire with the left movement. However, the president lifted the ban after the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines failed to return the ceasefire. - Kami Media